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MEMBERS, please keep tomorrow morning free!

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Did you know … that fungi can no longer be considered as native plants?

Our summer newsletter reported that, following last year’s annual photography competition, mycologists were keen to let us know that fungi need to be classified in their own separate category! 

This is because  because fungi are in a scientifically recognised kingdom in its own right (i.e. not animals, nor plants).

You can learn more about fungi at our members’ Cottage Talk on Thursday 15 February when respected mycology expert, Dr Diana Leeman, will provide a presentation called: Funghi and its Place in the Scheme of Things.

The talk will run from 10am until around midday at the Cottage.

For more info, contact Dale Borgelt by email: [email protected] 

Or you can call Dale on 0408 741 035


Golden Orb Weavers – Ed Frazer and Robert Raven

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We’ve all seen them!  They’re quite prevalent in our catchment.  They are large, colourful spiders suspended in impressive orb webs which seem to catch the sun’s rays – and which also catch your eye as you’re wandering past! 

These are the Golden Orb Weavers. 

Ed Frazer took a number of photos of Golden Orbs on his property. We consulted with Robert Raven, a respected arachnologist with Queensland Museum, to identify the spiders. 

Robert advised that Golden Orb spiders are of the genus Nephila.  He identified the spiders in Ed’s photos as being one of either two species which occur in our area: Nephila edulis or Nephila plumipes.  The primary difference between the two is a cone that occurs on the sternum near the mouthparts.     

Golden Orbs are virbrantly coloured, often with black and orange banded legs. The females are larger than the males. Their nests are generally placed between trees and shrubs, well above the ground and often littered with dead insects.

There is a wealth of information about Golden Orb Weavers on the web. If you’d like to learn more, Robert suggests visiting the Queensland Museum website. 

Meantime, please enjoy Ed’s photos and stop and take a look next time you see similar spiders in your own travels!

The next two shots are of males:

There is a male and female in the next shot (the smaller male is in the top centre of the photo, silhouetted against the tree):

Return to Bush Bites

Under the Mistletoe

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We often think of mistletoe as a scourge!

Mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic woody plant which attaches to other plants with its haustoria, specialised tubes which allow it to penetrate the host plant in order to absorb water and nutrients.

But whilst mistletoe does feed off trees such as eucalypts, iron barks and acacias, it also provides food and shelter for several bird species and small mammals such as possums and gliders. It is also a host plant for many moths and butterflies.

Our very first Bush Bites article was a piece about mistletoe written by Ed Frazer. It was called A Never Ending Story and it described Ed’s observations of the birdlife and other activity occurring within his mistletoe!

The story continues!

Read about Ed’s latest encounters and enjoy more photos from under the mistletoe by clicking here.

Search and Rescue Mission

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Like to get involved in some search and rescue?

Due to the recent rain (very welcome!) our McKay Brook bushcare group’s working bee on Saturday 3 February was cancelled.

An area they planted a year or so ago at their Mabb Street Kenmore site is now infested with glycine, so they’ll be doing some ‘search and rescue’ this Sunday morning 18 February.

Fortunately some of the species they’ve planted, such as the Brown Kurrajongs in the photo below, are rallying and doing well.

 
Brown Kurrajong plantings in Mabb Street – photo courtesy of Bryan Hacker

If you can help, park close to the end of Mabb Street (UBD Map 177 J8) just before 8.30am. Descend the steps and you’ll find Bryan Hacker and his crew about 20m along the path. 

Bring protective clothing (long-sleeved shirts, jeans, sensible shoes/boots), gloves, drinking water, hat, sunscreen. Refreshments will be provided.

For more info, call Bryan on 3374 1468.  PLEASE COME HELP IF YOU CAN!!! 

Only 2 spots remaining!

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Saturday 10 February:  Nature Writing Workshop with Dr Inga Simpson

This workshop is part of BCC’s Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCCP).

This particular event has been very popular AND THERE ARE ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!

The workshop will be held at the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre, 149 Acacia Rd, Karawatha,

Participants are requested to arrive by 9:15am for a 9:30am start. The program will finish at 4pm.

Please RSVP to [email protected],gov.au   This is a catered event, so please provide any information on special dietary requirements when you RSVP.

You are encouraged to bring along your own writing materials, although there will be materials supplied if you forget!

Mistletoe continued

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Late November 2017

The Brown Honeyeaters are back on the Mistletoe and it looks like the recent rains have encouraged them to breed again.

Brown Honeyeater feeding on Mistletoe
They are chasing them off, but I have now found the same Mistletoe on other Bottlebrushes about 100 metres away and the Mistletoebirds make quick work of flying between these bushes.

My curiosity got the better of me and I started looking into which Mistletoe species I was observing. I soon found out that Dr John Moss was the local guru on Mistletoes, because of his interest in the Butterflies and Invertebrates Club which he helped to establish. 
The connection is that Mistletoes are the host of the caterpillars of the Jezebel Butterflies. John and another Butterfly enthusiast Ross Kendall have written a first-class book entitled “The Mistletoes of Sub-tropical Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria“.

Scarlet Jezebel taking nectar

From their book I have easily been able to find out that my Mistletoe is the Yellow-flowered or Long-flowered Mistletoe Dendrophthoe vittelina and it is the host plant for the caterpillars of the Scarlet, Red-banded and Black Jezebels and a large number of small blue Azure butterflies.

One of the interesting facts I gleaned from their book is that different species of Mistletoes are often parasitic on other Mistletoes. This sound reasonable as if the Mistletoebird has fed on one species and goes to feed on a different Mistletoe, it is quite likely it will deposit its sticky undigested seed from the first species and it might grow.

But how did the first species get to a new host tree? 
Well, the answer might be that I found the Mistletoebirds I was photographing were attracted to the Bottlebushes to take nectar from the flowers and they could have seeds to deposit. 
Now I reflect on it I think this all may have happened many years ago as these trees are about 35 years old and the Mistletoes look quite old. Probably they were deposited as sticky seed by Mistletoe birds several generations ago right under my eyes and I never noticed.

I am looking forward to photographing the brilliantly coloured Jezebel butterflies laying eggs on my Mistletoes so the never ending story still has some more chapters!

Waterway Health and Assessment Training – July

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Location: To be confirmed
Type: Workshop
Organiser: BCC – Community Conservation Partnerships Program
Contact: Michael Thorley via email: [email protected]


Topic: Stream condition: Vegetation and habitat monitoring/Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (RARC)

Open to Creek Catchment members. Date subject to change. May require RSVP.

Book now for Aquatic Macro-Invertebrate Survey Training

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In 2015/16, Brisbane City Council’s Creek Catchment Program (CCP) introduced the Waterway Health Assessment Training (WHAT) program to provide catchment groups with regular opportunities to skill up volunteers for their waterway monitoring programs.

The first WHAT workshop for 2018 will be held on Sunday 11th March. The topic is Aquatic Macro-Invertebrate Survey Training and catchment members are encouraged to attend. 


Aquatic Ecologist Natalie Toon will guide participants through the requirements and methodology to undertake an aquatic macro invertebrate survey in their local creek. Training will include capture techniques, identification of macro invertebrates, and how the results relate to waterway health. This is a fantastic workshop for those interested in monitoring creek health, and providing and protecting aquatic habitat.

When:  Sunday, 11th March 2018, 9:00am – 1:00pm (morning tea and lunch included)

Where: 681 Gold Creek Road, Brookfield

Cost:    Free to catchment group members
RSVP by 2nd March 

For more info: email Michael Thorley at [email protected]

NOTE: Council provides five WHAT workshops each year. To see dates for the remaining sessions, please visit our Creek Monitoring Calendar.

*NEW* Online Butterfly Identification List !

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We are very excited about the release of our latest online field guide: Butterflies Found within the Catchment.

The list contains some beautiful photos of over 70 butterflies, species names, info about each butterfly’s behaviour and suggested plants to include in your garden if you’d like to attract them!  

This has all been made possible through the collaboration and generosity of Dale Borgelt, MCCG’s Public Relations Officer, and MCCG member and wildlife photographer Ed Frazer. Both share an interest in butterflies and a passion for wildlife photography. 

The list is accessible from our “Catchment Field Guides” menu item. 

Here are two small hints when you have the list open:

  • Click on a thumbnail to open a larger image
  • Press CTRL + F to search for a particular item. 

Take a look at the list now by clicking here. It’s absolutely worth checking out!

A hint of the magic in our new Butterfly List – a Lesser Wanderer

Courtesy of Ed Frazer